Archive for February, 2011

Nobody better lay a finger.. on Bart’s Butterfinger (and some years later, his Butterfinger BB’s). We all know The Simpsons sponsor, Butterfinger, which lasted until late season 4 (most believe due to writers including a line of Chief Wiggum saying something rude to Butterfinger Corp). Those of us who were born in the pre-1990 period would remember seeing The Simpsons on Butterfinger commercials, Burger King commercials, and even ads where they had no business being in, such as Business Weekly [hint: I made that name up]

Though those facts are neither here nor there, as they are not the topic. The topic is The Simpsons’ ’90s nostalgia factor for those born in the 80s, late 80s, and in the 90s. I’m sure in a few years time that even recent seasons will become nostalgic (at least for the kiddies) but we’re focusing on the ’90s era.

The video above is the first Butterfinger commercial to feature The Simpsons’ characters, and many followed. Along with a 1990 Burger King ad:

That is a rarely seen BK ad featuring Simpsons characters, the one more commonly seen is the creepy choir group singing out of nowhere in a dark location with Simpson toys. Nevertheless, I’m sure a few born in the 80s period will remember this; that is, if they are good at memory and with all the years you’ve been watching television, I’m sure your memory is fried out and you can’t remember what happened eight seconds ago. Yes, perhaps.

After The Simpsons were premiered, Matt Groening signed his name on anything and everything, supposedly because he didn’t know that the show would last long. And the crappy merchandise comes back to haunt us today, such as this horribly constructed yet still mesmerizing nostalgia Nelson figure released by Mattel:

Either way, we’ve all got something to remember from Simpsons’ merchandise past. What is yours? Feel free to comment below and tell us.

“Heavens to Mergatroyd. Bart, perhaps I cling to the old ways like a well-chewed shoe as the traditions I was weaned on are put to sleep or neutered one by one. But my time has not passed yet! The world does not need another college graduate who doesn’t know how to sit!” – Emily Winthrop